Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The Kansas City Chiefs restructured veteran quarterback Patrick Mahomes' contract, clearing more than $43.5 million in salary cap space.
Sources told NFL Network, OverTheCap.com and ESPN about the maneuver Wednesday. The Chiefs converted $44.05 million of Mahomes' 2026 base salary and his $10.4 million roster bonus into a guaranteed roster bonus to create the space.
Mahomes, who signed a $450 million contract extension in 2020, was to account for $78.214 million against the Chiefs' salary cap in 2026. With the restructure, he will now account for $34.65 million against the cap.
The Chiefs were more than $50 million over the projected salary cap before the restructure. NFL teams must be salary cap compliant by March 11. The projected salary cap is expected to be between $301.2 and $305.7 million.
Mahomes, 30, is under contract through 2031. The two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion, who missed the final three games of 2025 due to a knee injury, owns the No. 4 passer rating in NFL history, at 100.8. His 285.2 passing yards per game are the most in NFL history.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (C) celebrates with teammates after the Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings in Game 7 to win the World Series in Toronto on November 1, 2025. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo